My debut with Lenny the Lion

I read with some sadness of the death of the Lenny The Lion ventriloquist Terry Hall - I had probably my most "embawassing" moment with the two of them at the Grand Theatre in the late 1950s.

They formed part of the cast at the pantomime one year, I think it was Cinderella, which I attended as a small child with my parents in a party from Landywood CP School.

During the show Lenny asked for a glass of water, which was handed to him by one of the female dancers. He thanked her by saying: "Thank you good man".

At this I stood up in the stalls and shouted: "She's not a man, she's a lady". (Even at the age of six or seven I knew the difference.)

The outcry produced a huge reaction from the audience, as did Terry's response which sadly I missed as I suddenly realised what I had done. As Terry left the stage Lenny gave me the thumbs up for the impromptu debut I had made.

I have remembered it to this day as the most embarrassing moment of my life and longed for the chance to speak to Terry in later years to see if he recalled the incident.

Sadly that can not happen now but I thoroughly enjoyed that day, despite the embarrassment.

Rest in peace, Terry. Incidentally, what has happened to Lenny?

Kevin Tindill, Moor Park, Bloxwich.